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Family of deputy killed in Carnival mishap receives $14 million judgment

Dee Dee ThurstonManaging Editor

Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 3:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 3:49 p.m.

The family of a motorcycle deputy killed two years ago while escorting a Mardi Gras float successfully sued the krewe and the driver who hit him, winning a record-setting $14 million judgment this week.

The Terrebonne Parish jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before rendering its verdict Tuesday night, finding the driver of the truck pulling the float 95 percent responsible and the driver of the car that hit him 5 percent responsible, said Bill Dodd, the family’s attorney.

“It was a significant verdict in terms of the money awarded, and it served as vindication because of the allegations that the Sheriff’s Office and Timmy did something wrong,” Dodd said.

Jerry Sullivan, the Metairie-based attorney who represented insurer Lloyd’s of London, the Krewe of Titans and the two drivers, did not return messages left Wednesday on his office or cell phone.

Taisha Robichaux, a member of the krewe’s board of directors and one of those who testified during the trial, declined comment.

Terrebonne sheriff’s Capt. Tim Bergeron, 49, was killed Feb. 7, 2010, on La. 311 at Krumbhaar Drive as he escorted Krewe of Titans floats from the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center parking lot to Southland Mall, the staging area for that night’s parade.

A pair of roadside crosses mark the spot where Bergeron was hit by a driver as he pulled into the oncoming lane to block traffic at Polk Street for the procession of slow-moving floats.

Cleveland Ardoin of Lockport, who was driving the truck that pulled one of the floats, motioned to the driver waiting to make a left from Krumbhaar onto La. 311 to cross in front of him, he testified during a jury trial held this week in District Judge Johnny Walker’s courtroom in Houma.

The driver of that car, Shelly Ardoin, pulled into the path of Bergeron’s motorcycle, hitting him head-on, according to police reports and trial testimony.

Bergeron, a 25-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office and 11-year veteran of the agency’s motorcycle unit, died of his injuries at the hospital.

Bergeron’s widow, Kate, and his four adult children sued the drivers and krewe’s insurance companies. He is additionally survived by two younger children.

Kate Bergeron was awarded nearly $4 million for her emotional pain and suffering, funeral expenses and the loss of her husband’s companionship and income.

Each of the adult children got $2.5 million, for a total of $10 million, for their emotional pain and suffering.

“That’s one of the highest judgments ever rendered in Terrebonne,” said Wendy Chauvin, supervisor of civil records at the courthouse and a 22-year employee.

Testimony presented during the two-day trial revealed that Cleveland Ardoin had been tapped to drive the float a week prior to the parade, had never pulled a float before and did not attend a safety seminar that would have detailed the do’s and don’ts associated with the task, Dodd said.

Had he taken part in that class, Dodd said, he would have known “you never let someone pass in front of a float.”

Shelly Ardoin and Cleveland Ardoin are related via marriage. Dodd said Shelly has been married to Cleveland’s brother for 16 years, but Cleveland testified that he didn’t recognize her the day of the crash.

Titans’ float drivers are picked by the captain of each float, Dodd said, and Cleveland Ardoin was asked to fill in when his brother couldn’t drive as promised.

Titans is a 5-year-old krewe made up of men, women and children. It parades this year on Sunday, following the Krewe of Hyacynthians.

Bergeron was a longtime officer with D.A.R.E., a school-based program that educates youngsters about the dangers of illegal drugs and bad decisions, and supervised other officers assigned to school campuses throughout the parish.

<p>The family of a motorcycle deputy killed two years ago while escorting a Mardi Gras float successfully sued the krewe and the driver who hit him, winning a record-setting $14 million judgment this week.</p><p>The Terrebonne Parish jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before rendering its verdict Tuesday night, finding the driver of the truck pulling the float 95 percent responsible and the driver of the car that hit him 5 percent responsible, said Bill Dodd, the family's attorney.</p><p>“It was a significant verdict in terms of the money awarded, and it served as vindication because of the allegations that the Sheriff's Office and Timmy did something wrong,” Dodd said.</p><p>Jerry Sullivan, the Metairie-based attorney who represented insurer Lloyd's of London, the Krewe of Titans and the two drivers, did not return messages left Wednesday on his office or cell phone.</p><p>Taisha Robichaux, a member of the krewe's board of directors and one of those who testified during the trial, declined comment.</p><p>Terrebonne sheriff's Capt. Tim Bergeron, 49, was killed Feb. 7, 2010, on La. 311 at Krumbhaar Drive as he escorted Krewe of Titans floats from the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center parking lot to Southland Mall, the staging area for that night's parade.</p><p>A pair of roadside crosses mark the spot where Bergeron was hit by a driver as he pulled into the oncoming lane to block traffic at Polk Street for the procession of slow-moving floats.</p><p>Cleveland Ardoin of Lockport, who was driving the truck that pulled one of the floats, motioned to the driver waiting to make a left from Krumbhaar onto La. 311 to cross in front of him, he testified during a jury trial held this week in District Judge Johnny Walker's courtroom in Houma.</p><p>The driver of that car, Shelly Ardoin, pulled into the path of Bergeron's motorcycle, hitting him head-on, according to police reports and trial testimony. </p><p>Bergeron, a 25-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office and 11-year veteran of the agency's motorcycle unit, died of his injuries at the hospital.</p><p>Bergeron's widow, Kate, and his four adult children sued the drivers and krewe's insurance companies. He is additionally survived by two younger children.</p><p>Kate Bergeron was awarded nearly $4 million for her emotional pain and suffering, funeral expenses and the loss of her husband's companionship and income.</p><p>Each of the adult children got $2.5 million, for a total of $10 million, for their emotional pain and suffering.</p><p>“That's one of the highest judgments ever rendered in Terrebonne,” said Wendy Chauvin, supervisor of civil records at the courthouse and a 22-year employee.</p><p>Testimony presented during the two-day trial revealed that Cleveland Ardoin had been tapped to drive the float a week prior to the parade, had never pulled a float before and did not attend a safety seminar that would have detailed the do's and don'ts associated with the task, Dodd said.</p><p>Had he taken part in that class, Dodd said, he would have known “you never let someone pass in front of a float.”</p><p>Shelly Ardoin and Cleveland Ardoin are related via marriage. Dodd said Shelly has been married to Cleveland's brother for 16 years, but Cleveland testified that he didn't recognize her the day of the crash.</p><p>Titans' float drivers are picked by the captain of each float, Dodd said, and Cleveland Ardoin was asked to fill in when his brother couldn't drive as promised.</p><p>Titans is a 5-year-old krewe made up of men, women and children. It parades this year on Sunday, following the Krewe of Hyacynthians. </p><p>Bergeron was a longtime officer with D.A.R.E., a school-based program that educates youngsters about the dangers of illegal drugs and bad decisions, and supervised other officers assigned to school campuses throughout the parish.</p>